ACN clears air on APGA’s stance on APC

NIGERIANS were yesterday told that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has no plan to railroad the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) into merger arrangement.

Making the clarification yesterday in statement through its National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party explained why APGA was listed as one of the four parties in the merger deal.

Mohammed said APGA was included in the membership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as an act of good faith based on available information and prevailing circumstances.

The clarification came on the heels of published disclaimer of the APC by some APGA members.

Mohammed said in the statement issued in Abuja that the new party has absolute respect for the rights of individuals or groups on whether or not to associate within a democracy.

The statement reads: “We recognise the person and status of Governor Rochas Okorocha, who, as Imo governor, has been a great player and figure in the Nigerian political landscape, as well as Senator Annie Okonkwo, a seasoned politician and respectable lawmaker.

“We believe in their representation that APGA is interested in the merger, hence we worked with them in good faith. They participated effectively and positively in the meeting of all governors of the parties concerned and in the meetings of the merger committees of the parties, leading to the communique released by all the governors endorsing the merger and the one by the merger committees announcing the formation of the APC.”

However, the ACN said going by the statement signed on behalf of some APGA members by Dr. Tim Menakaya, the APC had come to the full realisation that there is dissent in the rank and file of the party (APGA).

It said: “In spite of this, and since democracy is about choice, alignments and re-alignments, hinged on the fundamentals of individual freedom of association, we respect their position, and will like to describe as unfortunate whatever misconception the purported full involvement of APGA in the merger may have generated.

“We also assure APGA that we are willing to work with the party whenever it normalises its internal process and is ready to join the platform. We all remain brethren within the Nigerian family and our doors remain open, in the spirit of the new party.”

The ACN, however, explained that APGA is not only parties that can join APC, saying that progressive individuals and groups are frre to come on board.

It said: “On this basis, therefore, individuals such as the Imo State Governor and others of like minds are still considered members of the APC,” the party said, and reiterated its resolve and commitment to the merger of the ACN, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in a final push to rescue Nigeria.

“We proudly inform Nigerians that APC is large enough to accommodate all those who are tired of the sorry state of our nation today and are ready to join in the quest for a positive change that will benefit all Nigerians.

“We do not intend to shut our doors to anyone who wants to be part of the APC, a platform for all progressives, irrespective of party affiliation, to help steer our nation’s ship of state, which is currently being battered by turbulent waves, to safety since the captain and the rest of the crew have either escaped below the deck or are busy fighting themselves, having lost all initiatives to safe the ship.”

I am not surprised that APGA will support APC, APGA is PDP and PDP is APGA. Three strong parties are ok to safe Nigeria. I believe APGA will lose some eminent members like Okorocha and other patriotic people if they refuse to join the Nuhu’s Ark.